‘Progress being made’ on Cork city water discolouration issues, says Uisce Éireann

Uisce Éireann has said it “continues to make progress” in addressing water discolouration in Cork city.

The water-utility company said that measures have been implemented by its water-quality taskforce to minimise the incidence of discolouration.

Such measures include planned and targeted flushing of the pipe network and investment in the Lee Rd water-treatment plant and the city’s water network.

Also, Uisce Éireann said it is enhancing its “proactive sampling and testing programme”, which monitors the quality of drinking water across Cork city.

Proactive monitoring

Additionally, Uisce Éireann said it is further increasing its “proactive monitoring programme”.

“Samples will be taken directly from boundary boxes without disturbing customers. This is to provide continued reassurance that the water is compliant once running clear, and to assist with investigations in to discolouration issues,” the company said.

Brian O’Leary, Uisce Éireann regional operations manager, said that water-services engineers and drinking-water compliance specialists “continue to closely monitor the water treatment plant and the water network that supplies the city to ensure compliance with drinking water regulations and the required standards”.

“While the majority of people in the city receive a consistently high quality, fully compliant water supply, without any discolouration issues, we fully appreciate the impact this is having on customers who continue to be impacted by discolouration.

“While there is no easy solution to resolving the matter, we continue to make progress and are committed to addressing the issues,” he added.

Uisce Éireann is continuing to advise customers not to drink discoloured water.

• See https://www.water.ie/help/water-quality/discoloured-water for more information.